Activities & Clubs
Ways to Get Involved at ISD
Activities and clubs at Iowa School for the Deaf appeal to a variety of student interests. Beyond the classroom, these opportunities are ideal settings to gain real-life experience, develop leadership skills, and make friends.
Student Council
Known as “StuCo,” students elect their representatives to plan school-wide activities and participate in leadership opportunities.
Yearbook
Students can take part in creating the award-winning ISD yearbook, which is known for its ability to engage its readers.
Boys Club & Pixies
Similar to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, these clubs meet twice monthly to learn skills, enjoy friends, explore the community and demonstrate service. For elementary students.
Academic Bowl
The high school academic bowl team enters regional and national competitions against other schools for the deaf. Some knowledge tested includes history, math, language arts, government, current events and Deaf Culture.
ASTRA Club
Sponsored by the adult service club ALTRUSA, ASTRA members at ISD are often raising funds for homeless shelters and organizing blood drives to give back to their community.
National Honor Society
High-academic achieving students at ISD may apply for National Honor Society membership. Scholarship, service, leadership and character are the four pillars associated with membership.
Junior National Association for the Deaf
Sponsored by the National Association of the Deaf, Junior NAD helps older students become future leaders and advocates in the deaf and hard of hearing community.
WEE
When offered, in the We Explore our Environment (WEE) program, ISD’s youngest students focus on social and language skills. These students do not live on campus, and do not even need to be enrolled at ISD to participate. Rather than go to a daycare or straight home after school, these students can experience an extended 90 minutes which complements their development in a fun atmosphere.
STEAM
The Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math (STEAM) program is geared toward middle school students. This program typically meets twice a week after school for 90 minutes. The focus is on educational activities in the content areas of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math. There are thousands of potential careers and jobs in the STEAM fields, and ISD aims to provide these students with a taste of their potential futures.
Sports
ISD elementary students (and area youth who are hard of hearing but do not attend ISD) start building foundational skills in sports through this program. Practice for basketball and volleyball teams is held on ISD’s campus, with ISD coaches. Teams play against other youth teams in the local YMCA. The environment is fun and relaxed. Practices and games are based on season and availability.
